'Tin Goyenda' creator Rakib Hasan passes away
For generations of readers in Bangladesh, “Tin Goyenda” was a defining part of their adolescence — and Rakib Hasan was the mind behind that exciting new world on the pages where teens willingly got lost.
Author Rakib Hasan, the creator of the beloved teen detective novel series "Tin Goyenda", is no more.
The 74-year-old passed away at a hospital in Dhaka this afternoon (15 October), triggering tributes on social media for the beloved author from millions of readers.
For generations of readers in Bangladesh, "Tin Goyenda" was a defining part of their adolescence — and Rakib Hasan was the mind behind that exciting new world on the pages where teens willingly got lost.
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Masuma Maimur, adviser to Seba Prokashoni, which publishes the fan favourite juvenile thriller series, confirmed the news of his passing through a post on her Facebook profile.
"With deep sorrow, we inform the readers of Tin Goyenda and Seba Prokashoni that Rakib Hasan has passed away. He breathed his last during dialysis when his heart suddenly stopped.
"Please pray for the eternal peace of his departed soul," wrote Masuma, who is the wife of Qazi Maimur Hossain, the younger son of Seba Prokashoni founder late Qazi Anwar Hussain.
Rakib Hasan, who long suffered from various age-related complications, had been undergoing treatment at Gonoshasthaya Nagar Hospital in Dhanmondi. Both of his kidneys had failed. He breathed his last during a dialysis session at the hospital today.
In another Facebook post shared later this evening, Masuma said that Rakib Hasan's namaz-e-janaza would be held after Isha prayers at Basabo Mahasarak Jame Masjid. Afterwards, he would be buried at Shahjahanpur Graveyard.
From Abul Kashem Mohammad Abdur Rakib to Rakib Hasan
Born as Abul Kashem Mohammad Abdur Rakib on 12 December 1950 in Cumilla, Rakib Hasan spent his childhood in Feni. After completing his studies at Cumilla Victoria College, he tried his hand at various jobs but soon realised that the nine-to-five life was not for him.
Eventually, writing became his true calling. His writing career began at Seba Prokashoni. He first entered the literary world by translating world-famous classic books, including the "Arabian Nights" and Edgar Rice Burroughs' "Tarzan".
His first book was published in 1977 under a pseudonym, while his first work under the name Rakib Hasan was "Jungle", a translation of Kenneth Anderson's "This is the Jungle: More Tales of the Man-eaters".
Later, he went on to write over 400 popular books. However, his greatest legacy remains the "Tin Goyenda" series — a companion to the adolescence of countless Bangladeshi teenagers.
Besides "Tin Goyenda", he created two other popular series — "Tin Bondhu" and "Goyenda Kishore Musa Robin", which are mostly offshoots of "Tin Goyenda".
His "Tin Goyenda" series alone spans 160 books, according to Wikipedia. The first book of the series, titled "Tin Goyenda", was published in August 1985, catching the attention of thousands of thriller-loving young people.
Alongside works under his own name, he also wrote under several pseudonyms. Under the pseudonyms Zafar Chowdhury and Abu Sayeed, he also wrote books for the "Romohorshok" series and "Goyenda Raju" series, respectively.
Under the pen name Shamsuddin Nawab, he translated the works of Jules Verne and wrote "Tin Goyenda" books.
Rakib Hasan has translated at least 30 books. During his career spanning decades, he has dabbled in horror and science fiction as well.
The "Tin Goyenda" series has coloured the childhood of millions, filling their imaginations with adventure and excitement. Only those who turned its pages know how many thrilling moments Kishore Pasha, Robin Milford, and Musa Aman – the three main characters of the series – have given them.
The series was originally inspired by Robert Arthur Jr's "The Three Investigators", but Rakib Hasan's pen breathed an entirely new life into the series.
His writing transformed it into a work rooted in Bangladeshi literature and imagination. Through this series, he became a beloved author to thousands of young readers.
To Bangladeshi readers, Rakib Hasan was more than just a detective fiction writer — he was a cherished figure who shaped the childhood and youth of multiple generations.
